Brentwood Names First Female City Judge

Prior to Monday night's Brentwood City Commission meeting, a reception in honor of the city's 40th anniversary of incorporation welcomed past city commission members, city managers, and other influential city officials back to where they once served.

Forty years from now, when the city celebrates 80 years of incorporation, one of the special guests may be Laurie Jewett. The Vanderbilt University Law School graduate became the city's first female city judge when she was appointed by the Brentwood City Commission to become the next city judge this summer upon Judge Thomas Schlater's retirement.

The appointment didn't come without some intrigue -- as anyone watching the Comcast broadcast noticed. In the first round of voting, Jewett and William Cohen each received three votes for the position. During that first round, Commissioners Noble, Webb, and Dunn voted for Jewett while Commissioners Reagan, Sweeney, and Smithson cast their ballots for Cohen. Since Commissioner Betsy Crossley was absent from the meeting there was no established way to break the tie. So, the commissioners voted again. In the second round of voting the votes remained the same with the exception of one commissioner. Commissioner Regina Smithson switched her vote from Cohen to Jewett. Thus, Laurie Jewett will be sworn in sometime in June and begin her duties as the Brentwood City Judge this July. CONGRATULATIONS!!